NY Senate delays confirmation of Hornbeck to Adirondack Park Agency board
New York’s state Senate is delaying confirmation of an Adirondack businessman and environmental activist to the Adirondack Park Agency board.
Peter Hornbeck, a boat builder who lives in Omstedtville, in Essex County, was appointed by Governor David Paterson to serve on the commission last year.
He’s the former chair of a green group called the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks.
Hornbeck sits now on the board of directors of a newly formed environmental group called Protect the Adirondacks.
That organization is currently suing the APA over its decision not to classify the waters of Lows Lake as wilderness.
Yesterday, the Senate’s Environment committee held a confirmation hearing for Hornbeck, but put off any action.
Hornbeck faces opposition from pro-development and local government groups.
In a statement issued yesterday, Fred Monroe, head of the Local Government Review Board, criticized the governor for not gathering input from elected officials before picking a nominee.
"What ultimately concerns the Review Board is the lack of public announcement about the APA appointment – no public news release, no email. The APA commissioners have direct influence over the lives and livelihoods of everyone who lives inside the Adirondack Park and the private land owned by those people. We believe that Adirondack local governments should have input on the selection of their representatives on the APA."
Hornbeck has been named to replace businessman and resort owner Arthur Lussi from Lake Placid.
Local government leaders have also complained that the APA commission is too heavily weighted with environmentalists.
Three of eight appointed commissioners -- including chairman Curt Stiles -- used to sit on the Adirondack Council's board.
In an interview yesterday with WNBZ radio, the Council's John Sheehan dismissed the idea that the commission is lopsided.
"Well what is the balance? I mean people are complaining about folks having been affiliated with environmental groups who are their neighbors. It's up to the governor to decide who of the Park residents he thinks are best qualified to serve on the Park Agency."
posted by Brian Mann @ 2/03/2010 06:59:00 AM
40 Comments
40 Comments:
Yup, it's up to the Governor. Local residents should have no say apparently. I knew Hornbeck years back. Nice enough guy, but his activism should disqualify him for the position. Or, if the Gov wants green activists to serve then they should be balanced out with members or the property rights groups or developers.
Yeah, I know, it'll never happen. Politically correct trumps common sense every time.
I think the local governments and the review board are doing the right thing by objecting to the secrecy. Let us decide who's going to be on the APA.
What would Mr. Sheehan say if it were two developers and a strip mall owner on the board? They live in the Adirondacks too ...
We are all conservationists -- it's our living and our reason to live here. But businesses are being squeezed out of here
Hmmm...a successful businessman in the Adirondacks? That flies in the face to Monroe and Little's mantra. No wonder they want this to go away.
Why label those with objections to this- naming another board member of an acitvist, lobbying environmental group - as pro-developement or of local government interest. How about just the common sense people who live and work here and keep trying.
Not seeing the recent bias and unbalanced board that already exists at the APA is like denying you have cancer when the tumor is popping out of your skin. Must be the governor is blind - he should just let the Adk Council& Protectors take over the APA & quit the charade.
It's hilarious that NY continues to staff the APA with the same people that sue the APA...
Loggerhead nailed it.
Hiring someone that is suing you? That is an interesting choice. Only in NYS!
A serious question: How many APA board members have been members of the Chamber of Commerce?
He is a successful businessman and employer who operates in the Adirondacks. Seems like a great choice.
Brian, you don't mention who he is replacing. Art Lussi has probably been a thorn in the side of groups like Peter's.
From the ADE: "Lussi has spoken out against regulations that would limit the size of new boathouses and has also advocated for more wind towers in the Park, specifically at the state's Gore and Whiteface Mountain ski areas. He also voted against making land and water in the Lows Lake area wilderness."
We can't have these types of opinions on the agency? Seriously, I agree that Peter is probably a good man (I don't know him personally, I have paddled his boats, very nice!). But the choice seems controversial. There are lots of "successful business men and employers" in the ADK.s. Why this guy now? It doesn't make sense. We should be trying to bring divided factions together not trying to separate them further. Environmental groups will probably see this a coup.
I second the question: How many APA board members have been members of the Chamber of Commerce?
Enough of this craziness that everyone on the APA has to be someone entirely ignorant (or an opponent) of the environmental issues that face our region and provide the jobs we depend on.
Pete Hornbeck is a local successful business owner with an appropriate understanding of the Park's important natural resources.
He should be chair of the APA.
"everyone on the APA has to be someone entirely ignorant (or an opponent) of the environmental issues that face our region" I hope you are not suggesting that Art Lussi fits this description. I would argue that no one on the board fully fits this description, nor should anyone on it fit this description. I would argue that a ADK business person without strong ties to an environmental group (that often opposes many of the actions taken by the APA) may not be the right choice at this point. Most ADK business people are members of their local chamber of commerce. That isn't any special credential. It is nice but it doesn't matter much. I would have to check but it is my guess that Art Lussi is a member of the Lake Placid chamber, does that make his views any better in your opinion.
Also, I would guess that Frank Mezzano who owns (owned) a store in Speculator is most likely a member of his local chamber of commerce. What is the point?
We have too many people from the Chamber of Commerce.
I bet Hornbeck would represent the Average Adirondacker better then Lussi. Hornbeck is a self made success story, Lussi has a giant resort that he can than his family for.
I usually agree with Governor Paterson but I think this appointment is a mistake. The APA has moved beyond its mission of protecting the environment and now wants to impose its vision of appropriate aesthetics. Examples of aesthetics that have little or nothing to do with the environment: the size of Lowe's sign, flat roof boat houses, exterior color of structures, maximum height of structures, and height and number of cell towers (though the APA has moderated its position on cell towers after several Northway accidents).
The state should have aboslutely no say over what color my house is. If house color is regulated at all-and I don't think it should be- it should be reuglated by local zoning and planning boards. This is still a free county; free even in the Adirondack.
Hopefully Hornbeck won't be another elitist imposing his personal views on what is visually pleasing.
Art is a nice guy, but he surely doesn't represent your "average" Adirondacker.
But on the other hand, he is a "Lussi". Is it a conflict to include them or a mistake to exclude them?
Pete Hornbeck was a 6th grade teacher from Hamburg NY who went into boat building. Last I knew it was a one man shop with part time help. Lets not make it sound like he employs hundreds.
The key issue is why was he chosen? Because of his business experience or because of his "green" stance. Anyone who thinks it's his business acumen is dreaming.
Manta says Hornbeck has three employees and brings in $240k a year, not bad for the Adirondacks. Lussi is also a good businessman.
Bearwatcher: You listed "Examples of aesthetics that have little or nothing to do with the environment", please tell us some examples that do.
Pete was a sixth grade teacher at Johnsburg Central School. He also employs full time workers. He's a good balance for the APA commissioner across the river from Minerva, former Johnsburg supervisor Bill Thomas.
Hornbeck, Lussi and Thomas are all good people who represent the Adirondacks. I think Hornbeck is a good choice to replace Lussi.
Senator Little does not want him on the board because they have opposing views, but there is a sizable contingent of Adirondack residents that do not agree with Little.
6:49,
Aesthetics by themselves really don't affect the environment.
Though APA regulations on setbacks, wetlands, subdivisions, etc do. That's not to say those regulations couldn't be enforced by another agency like the DEC.
My choice of word in the previous post may have been imprecise
I attended his 6th grade class. I know where he was from, Hamburg, and he moved to North Creek area. Thomas is hardly a hard line pro development guy. A nice guy yes, but not a hard core developer. Hornbeck appears to be a hard core greenie though.
Peter Hornbeck seems like a nice guy, but his Protect! organization is not just extreme, it plays dirty. We don't want a commissioner with the ethics of Protect!.
I guess I just don't get it. Having grown up in North Creek, I knew both P Hornbeck and W Thomas. Under Billy's stewardship, condos seemed to pop up everywhere in the town of Johnsburg and currently at least two huge condo developments are building in North Creek. As Gore mtn resides in the town, I suppose the development was due to arrive sooner or later, but that's progress. Though I don't know how many town-folk are purchasing condos, sooner or later you end with a souless community of part-timers and expensive restarurants where the few struggling locals can wait tables and pump gas. Last I knew, God wasn't making anymore land, and how many Lake Georges and Placids do we need? I guess I just don't get it.
"is most likely a member of his local chamber of commerce. What is the point?"
Joining a chamber of commerce generally means you subscribe to a certain point of view about the utility and worth of business. (The US Chamber, by the way, is actively anti-environmentalism.)
Just as joining an environmental group means you subscribe to a point of view about preservation, etc...
I just don't see anybody hollering or suggesting conspariacies when pro-business views are on a local governing council of any kind.
bearwatcher: You say "The APA has moved beyond its mission of protecting the environment and now wants to impose its vision of appropriate aesthetics." Really!?!?!
The original APA Act lists aethetics as a development consideration.
4:50,
If aesthetics is mentioned in the APA Act it shold be repealed. That provision is indicative of an elitist NYC mindset that assumes residents of the Adirondacks aren't enlightened enough to govern themselves.
I grew up in North Creek too, I attended Pete's 6th grade class and knew Bill very well and adored his late wife Carol, a saint if there ever was one. I also remember North Creek in the mid 60's vs North Creek in the 80's and 90's when I left. Great Eastern, Kellys, NL, Finch, IP, Sweets mill... all the employers but Bartons and Gore are gone. It's bedroom community now. What, 2 gas stations where there used to be 6 or 7? 1 supermarket where there used to at least 4 or 5? Elliot Monters plans for Little Gore in the ate 70's never got off the ground really, but a different result is there today. It's jobs, it keeps Murphys and Braley & Noxons going and the other businesses going. Don't look down your nose at what you have. It's a lot more than what many other towns have. Yep, having some NYC skier or rafter standing in front of you at the GU dissing your hometown stinks, but at least they're spending some bucks in The Crick and paying taxes. What do you think your school taxes would be at JCS if those condos weren't paying?
Five members of the APA board of commissioners are to be LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES! They should be nominated by local government,then chosen by the governor and then approved by the senate. Maybe then there can be a balance on the APA.
JR
There are 5 LOCAL representatives to sit on the APA board of commissioners. They should be nominated to the governor by LOCAL GOVERNMENT who shall chose, then the senate shall appoint. ALSO, all terms shall end at their scheduled time limit...no hold overs. Can be reappointed.
NC-JR
adirondackbearwatcher - you just proved you are ignorant on the issues you argue about.
At least he has the backbone to develop and user name here and stand by what he says, even when he is wrong.
Eddie C,
Thank you.
9:06,
I will admit I have never read the APA Act. I apologize for my mistake.
I do believe, however, that the APA has recently increased its regulation of highly subjective "aesthetics", all while failing to protect lakes like Lake George. This shows a fundamental lack of priorities. What was once a good idea, the APA, has become a monster.
bearwatcher- interesting that you feel the APA moved beyond its mission and that you have an opinion of the appointment when you don't even know what the APA mission is or what the appoint is supposed to do.
Hello!......people who live inside the blue line....we live in a 'green' place...and a very important example piece of real estate because of it....you property rights people offer no ideas or actions about how to sustainably take care of the ADKs..show us how we do this before jumping to be the critic...
a name,
I guess we have different ideas about what the APA should do. Yes, the word "aesthetics" does appear in the APA Act, but it doesn't say what color my house should be, how big Lowe's should be, how high cell towers should be, or what type of roof is acceptable for a boathouse.
Instead of attacking me, why not defend the APA's actions?
Are you an APA satffer or an AC member?
Marisa,
What does house color, sign size, cell tower height, and boat house roof have to do with "sustainably taking care of Adirondacks"?
Hey Marisa- This "property rights" person would like to dictate to you exactly how you live your life, use your property and what it looks like. You own it and pay taxes on it? Tough, you'll do what we say or else!
As I understand it, Peter Hornbeck is a small business owner, a conservationist, and a strong member of the Adirondack community.
Isn't that, in a lot of ways, exactly what the Adirondacks are about? A balance of business, nature, and community?
In my opinion, this is exactly the kind of person we should be appointing to the APA. This isn't some activist lawyer who happens to own a summer home here... if that were true I could appreciate the reasons given for opposition. But since that couldn't be further from the truth, this strikes me as nothing more than an extension of the politics we are all weary of.
"Compromise" seems to be a word lost on politicians these days, replaced instead by "no" for anything that resembles middle ground... for even the most minor of disagreements. That this is prominent in Washington is one thing, that we find here in situations like this is just disappointing.
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